Band 
Vol. II.
Seite
84
JPEG-Download
 

84

PHYSIOGNOMY AND CRANIOLOGY .

melancholy; and rarely belong to the choleric. Benevo-lence, tenderness, timidity, and weakness, are exhibited bythe perfectly semicircular arch formed by the under part ofthe upper eyelid. Persons of acute and solid understand-ing have generous open eyes, composing an acute anglewith the nose; and when the eyelid forms an horizontal lineover the pupil, it is a strong indication that he who pos-sesses it is subtle, shrewd, and penetrating. Wide open-ing lids, showing the white of the ball under the othercolours, may be observed in phlegmatic and timid, as wellas in the courageous and rash; but in comparing thesemarks in the characters just mentioned, a very perceptibledifference is discovered, the latter is more oblique, bettershaped, and more firm.

The Eyebrows .The eyebrows are essential in the ex-pression of the eyes; in anger they are brought down andcontracted; in all pleasant sensations, and in astonishment,they assume a fine arch; in youth they are naturally andregularly arched; the horizontal, and rectiliuear eyebrow'sbelong to the masculine bias of the soul, and when com-bined with the above designations, show strength of under-standintr, united with feminine kindness. Those that arederanged in their appearance, with the hair growing invarious directions, demonstrate a wild and perplexed stateof mind ; but if the hair be fine and soft, they signify gentleardour. The compressed eyebrow', formed of parallel hairs,is a certain proof of profound wisdom, true perception, anda manly habit of thought. There are eyebrows which meetacross the nose; this circumstance gives the person an airof ferocious gloom, which is admired by the Arabs ; butthe ancients versed in physiognomy conceived such to bethe character of cunning: Lavater , on the contrary, sayshe discovered them in the most open and worthy counte-nances, admitting, at the same time, they may indicate aheart ill at ease. Those who think profoundly, and thoseequally prudent and firm in their conduct, have never highand weak eyebrows, but in some measure equally dividing theforehead, they betray rather debility and apathy; and thoughmen with an opposite character may be found with them,they invariably signify a diminution of the powers of themind. Thick angular eyebrows, interrupted in their lengths,signify spirit and activity; and when they approach the eye-lids closely, the more firm, vigorous, and decided is thecharacter: the reverse shows a volatile and less enterprising-disposition; when the extremes are remote from each other,